Thursday, 19 November 2015

Reptiles found in the Kruger - The Puff adder

Puff adder.

Their name ‘puff adder’ comes from the snake known for
inflating itself and hissing when feeling threatened. The puff adder is one of
the most common and widespread venomous snakes found in Africa. There are two
subspecies of this snake; the more common and widespread puff adder, as found in
the Kruger, and the puff adder found in Somalia and northern Kenya.

The puff adder, which grows to a maximum of 1 metre in
length, is easily recognized by its stumpy and stocky appearance, is yellow-brown
to light brown in colour with chevron-like markings, and a large, triangular
shaped head with large nostrils that point upwards.

Puff adders belong to the viper family, meaning they have
large, hinged front fangs that in order for them to be retained, they have to
be hinged and folded out of the way of the mouth. It is because of this that
their bites are painful and they are able to deeply penetrate their venom.

Their venom is described as cytotoxic, meaning it causes
severe swelling and is toxic to cells causing cells to be destroyed, known as
necrosis. A puff adder usually produces between 100 – 350 mg of venom with a
single bite, referred to as their venom yield, and a maximum of 750 mg. It
takes only about 100 mg of venom to possibly kill a fully grown adult.

Puff adder striking.

The puff adder takes the title for the most bites and
fatalities of a snake in Africa, accounting for 60% of all recorded snake
bites. The reasons for its high number of bites being because it does not move
away from approaching footsteps, instead defending its position and striking if
deemed necessary, it is widely
distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa, including the Kruger National Park, and
is aggressive by nature.

However the chances of death from a puff adder bite are
thankfully small, fatalities that do occur are usually due to poor medical care
and a secondary infection from the bite.

Habitat

These snakes are found throughout most of sub-Saharan Africa,
in countries such as South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Malawi, Botswana and the
Arabian Peninsula among many others, except for the Sahara and rainforest
areas.

Puff adders prefer living their lives out in somewhat
rocky grassland areas, open woodlands and savannah habitats.

Puff adder markings.

Behaviour

These snakes are great at climbing trees, lurking in
bushes and are capable of swimming with ease.

Puff adders are sluggish and slow snakes, who often bask
in the sun in low bushes and on rocks. Their patterns, on black or brown surfaces such as dead leaves,
create excellent camouflage.

When disturbed, they will hiss loudly and assume a
tightly coiled and defensive posture with their fore part of their body in a
taut ''S'' shape. They may try to retreat from the perceived threat towards cover
and safety.

Puff adders have one of the fastest strike of all snakes, and are
able to strike either from the side or front on, after which they quickly
return to their defensive position, ready to strike again if need be. They can
strike up to one third of their total body length while young and inexperienced
puff adders launch their entire bodies forward. These vipers do not often grip
their victims preferring to release quickly and then returning to their
defensive position.

Diet

Puff adders mainly eat rodents but will also chow down on
birds, amphibians, lizards, meerkat pups
and even other snakes. These vipers are both diurnal and nocturnal although
mostly active during the night.

Reproduction

A female puff adder releases a pheromone that attracts
male puff adders, who then battle it out in a neck-wrestling dance, in the
hopes of winning over the female.

In late summer, a large litter of 20 to 60 baby puff
adders are born, between 12.5 and 17.5 cm long. A female puff adder, in a Czech zoo, holds the record for the most live young born of any snake, at an extraordinary number of 156!

Female puff adders give birth to live young through a
process which is viviparous;
young puff adders develop within an egg during the incubation period, only to
break out at the end of term while still inside their mother and then emerge
into the world.

Did you know?

Are very territorial snakes and have been known to kill
other puff adders that are within their territory.